By David Owei,Bayelsa
Godswill Ibomo’s 29th-minute strike handed former Aiteo Cup champions, Bayelsa United, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visiting Abia Comets of Umuahia in their Matchday One encounter of the Southern Conference B of the 2026/2027 Nigeria National League (NNL) season at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.

The victory marked a positive start to Bayelsa United’s “Operation Return to the NPFL” campaign as the Prosperity Boys secured all three points in front of their home supporters.

Bayelsa United began the encounter on the front foot, dictating the pace and dominating possession in search of an early breakthrough. However, despite creating promising opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, the hosts were unable to find the back of the net, with John Bassey and Okardi Inikurogha both coming close, only to be denied by the visitors’ resolute defence.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 29th minute when the impressive young forward, Godswill Ibomo, cut in from the right flank before unleashing a superb left-footed volley that beat Abia Comets goalkeeper, Anyanwu Ugochukwu, to send the home fans into wild celebrations.

Having enjoyed the greater share of possession and attacking opportunities in the first half, Bayelsa United returned from the break to face a more determined Abia Comets side, who mounted pressure on their hosts in search of an equaliser.

However, the Prosperity Boys’ defensive unit remained organised and disciplined, frustrating the visitors’ attacking moves and ensuring that their slender advantage remained intact.

Not entirely satisfied with the scoreline, Technical Adviser Abdul Maikaba introduced Julius Godknows and Godbless Ayeke for Okardi Inikurogha and John Bassey respectively in a bid to inject fresh energy into the attack.

The introduction of Ayeke, who earned promotion from the club’s feeder team to the senior squad, also marked his official debut for the Prosperity Boys. Despite the late attacking adjustments, Abia Comets maintained their defensive discipline to prevent Bayelsa United from extending their lead.

Speaking after the encounter, Technical Adviser of Bayelsa United Abdu Maikaba described the contest as a difficult one but expressed satisfaction with the crucial three points.

“It was a tough game, but the most important thing is that we secured the three points. We created several scoring opportunities that could have given us more goals, but unfortunately, we failed to convert them.

“Although Abia Comets came out stronger in the second half and put us under pressure, I believe we will continue to improve as the league progresses. This is an important victory for us, and we are happy to begin the campaign with a win,” Maikaba stated.

On his part, Abia Comets Head Coach, Ifeanyi Ukaiwe, expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance despite the defeat.

“I am pleased with the performance of my players. Although the result did not go our way, the team’s display reflects our ambition and determination for the new season. We will take the positives from this encounter and work towards improving in our subsequent matches,” Ukaiwe remarked.

Also speaking, Bayelsa United captain, Gabriel Biriduba reaffirmed the team’s determination to approach every fixture with a winning mentality, insisting that the opening-day victory had strengthened their belief in achieving their promotion ambition.

“Our target this season is to win every match and give our best in every game. This victory is a good starting point, and it has further boosted our confidence and belief that we can achieve our ambition of returning Bayelsa United to the NPFL at the end of the season,” Biriduba said.

Bayelsa United will next travel to Ekiti to face Dokkal Khairu FC on November 15, 2026, at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, as the Prosperity Boys seek to build on their winning start and maintain momentum in their quest for an immediate return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

Akpabio Congratulates Nigeria’s Golden Girls, Over Victory
By George Mgbeleke
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has sent a hearty congratulations to the Nigerian Under-17 Women’s National Team on their historic triumph at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup!

A statement from Akpabio Media Office signed by Anietie Ekong quoted the Senate President as describing the World Cup winning team as “Nigeria’s Golden Girls” who have made the nation proud.

“By achieving this remarkable feat, you have made Nigeria the first African nation to win the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. This is not just a victory for Nigerian football; it is a proud moment for the entire African continent.

“You have demonstrated extraordinary talent, determination, resilience and the true Nigerian spirit. Your victory is a testament to the hard work of the players, coaches and everyone who contributed to this remarkable achievement.

“Your courage, determination, discipline, teamwork and fighting spirit have brought immense joy and honour to our nation. You have demonstrated that with talent, hard work and belief, no dream is beyond reach.

“You have not only won a trophy; you have won the hearts of millions of Nigerians and inspired a generation of young girls to dream big, believe in themselves and reach for greatness. You are our pride, our champions and our Golden Girls!

“You have raised the Nigerian flag high and inspired millions of young girls across Africa to dream bigger. You are more than champions; you are history makers!

“To the players, coaches, technical crew and everyone behind this historic success, congratulations!

“The world has heard our victory song!” Akpabio said.

‎By David Owei,Bayelsa
‎Bayelsa United Technical Adviser, Abdul Maikaba, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season, following the Prosperity Boys’ emphatic 4-1 victory over Ogunbor United FA of Sapele in a pre-season friendly.
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‎The encounter, played at the Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Delta State, saw the former Aiteo Cup champions produce an impressive attacking display, with Okardi Okardi Inikurogha grabbing a hat-trick to underline the team’s growing goalscoring threat ahead of the new campaign.
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‎Inikurogha found the back of the net in the 23rd, 53rd and 87th minutes, while Tijani Aleloju added another in the 30th minute. Thompson Ogunbor scored the consolation goal for Ogunbor United in the 65th minute.
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‎Reacting after the encounter, Coach Maikaba said he was encouraged by the team’s performances in the series of pre-season fixtures, particularly their attacking efficiency and ability to convert scoring opportunities.
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‎According to the experienced tactician, Bayelsa United have scored an impressive 35 goals in 10 pre-season matches, averaging 3.5 goals per game, a statistic he described as a positive indication of the team’s attacking strength.
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‎He maintained that sustaining the goalscoring momentum into the league campaign would significantly strengthen the club’s quest to secure promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the end of the season.
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‎Although acknowledging that there were still a few grey areas requiring tactical refinement before the commencement of the league, Maikaba expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall progress and readiness for the new challenge.
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‎The former Plateau United and Akwa United manager also commended the club’s management for putting together what he described as a top-notch pre-season programme, noting that the tour had provided the players with valuable exposure and competitive match experience.
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‎He explained that the series of friendly matches had enabled the technical crew to assess individual performances, identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses, improve tactical understanding and build cohesion within the squad ahead of the new season.
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‎Maikaba added that playing against different opponents had also offered the coaching crew an opportunity to evaluate the players’ responses to various tactical challenges and address identified shortcomings before the league kicks off.
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‎Meanwhile, Coach of Ogunbor United FA, Ogunbor Silas, said he was impressed with the performance of his players despite the defeat, stressing that the primary objective of the friendly was to gain exposure and test his squad against a more experienced opponent rather than focus on the result.
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‎Bayelsa United captain, Gabriel Biriduba, also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to secure immediate return to the NPFL, assuring that the players were determined to translate their pre-season preparations into positive results when the league begins.
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‎Speaking on behalf of the club’s chairman, a board member of Bayelsa United, Mr Godson Ekadi, said the team was approaching the new season with a clear mandate to regain its place in the country’s top-flight league, in line with the vision of Governor Douye Diri.
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‎Ekadi expressed delight at the improvement in the players’ performances, observing that several members of the squad had rediscovered their form in recent weeks, a development he said reflected the growing seriousness and competitive spirit within the camp.
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‎Bayelsa United will begin their NNL campaign against Abia Comets of Umuahia on November 8, 2026, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, as the Prosperity Boys commence their quest for an immediate return to the NPFL.